Grapevine 2018 issue 92 junjul18 full colour by FIONA ECC

rapevine G Ealing Christian Centre

magazine

MIRACULOUS HEALING FROM TERMINAL CANCER pages 8 & 9

ORDINATION OF BHAB GHALE AT ELS18 pages 10 & 11

Issue 92 JUN/JUL 2018

KENYA COMMUNITY REBUILD 3-page special by Jane K Wamae pages 29 to 31

www.ecc.org.uk

An Elim Church

One family of many nations proclaiming one Gospel through many disciples

Have they seen Jesus

“I

am so glad you’ve come, because few people are prepared to visit us here,” Pastor Garba told us, who lives in the picturesque region of Dipayal in western Nepal.

It is a location that requires a long car journey through the mountain roads to reach there. In fact, on this occasion it turned out to be a far more difficult journey than we had anticipated. The original plan was to fly to Kathmandu, and then take a local plane to the far end of the country. However, after waiting three hours in the local airport, we were informed our plane had been cancelled. The only way to get to the venue for our meetings on time was to hire a 4x4 and drive the 500 miles through the mountain roads. We drove all night and all the next day – 23 hours in total stopping only for food. With the roads twisting and turning every few yards, and without having a working seatbelt to restrain us, sleeping proved impossible as we clung on to the seat in front of us. After two days without sleep, we arrived in the evening, slept, and were ready for a morning walk across the river and up the hill for the 8.00am start to our meetings. Many people had walked several hours to get there, and others had spent the same amount of time travelling from afar in local buses. It is always so fulfilling to minister to such eager and spiritually hungry people. To reach his church from this large village, it is necessary to cross the bridge of a wide river flowing in the valley (see cover picture), surrounded by hills and mountains, and climb part way up the other side, where it looks down over this magnificent

view. There the kites soar effortlessly, so close that the individual markings on their feathers can be distinguished. Through the mountains and into their surrounding valleys, Pastor Garba has pioneered nine churches that he continues to oversee. He is a man who works tirelessly for Jesus, and he tells us, as his equally committed wife looks on: “I can do without food, but I can’t do without spreading the Gospel.”

He related how the church had been praying for several months in advance of our visit. A stronghold of Hinduism, well-used shrines are seen in the streets, hills and beside the river. We were invited to do training in healing and deliverance here, because it is also a stronghold for the occult. Everyone is familiar with the manifestations of the powers of darkness, and so we went to show them how to minister in these areas in a biblical and effective way to see people delivered and healed. We are told that the majority of Nepalese come to Christ through a miracle – either healing or deliverance. Our missionary in Nepal, Bhab Ghale, had been evangelising in this district prior to our coming. This is one of the less developed areas of Nepal. In one village he asked a Hindu woman: “Have you heard the Good News about Jesus? Do you know Jesus?” She paused for a moment in thought and replied: “Yes, I have met Him. He comes to pray with me from time to time. He lives over there,” indicating the village. Bhab thought for a moment, and then realised she was talking about Pastor Garba. Her knowledge of Jesus was embodied in the man she saw acting like Jesus. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ,” Paul told the Christians in the church of Corinth. Today the followers of Jesus are spread all around the world: some live in mountain villages, others in rural setting and yet others, like us, may be in the teeming population of a major metropolitan city. But the same principle remains true. You and I may be the only opportunity for the circle of people we interact with, to see the reality of Jesus. In our western world, each subsequent generation has been drifting further and further from its Christian heritage and biblical knowledge, until today many of the young generation know nothing of Jesus, except as a swear word. Many would never even think to venture inside a church, but all come into contact with people who follow Jesus. And so, for them, their first understanding of who Jesus is, will be through those of His followers they work with or mingle with socially. The ways of the world we now live in are so very different from the ways of Christ, that those following Jesus as a lifestyle should stand out even before a word is spoken. There was a time in our lives, when Rajinder and I were living in another country, when two people, newly converted to Christ from another religion, came to live for

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

recently? one year with us as a family. They had had to leave their hometown to flee from those who had had them arrested and locked in a cell on false charges. These two had no prior knowledge at all about how to follow Jesus; everything was very new to them.

You and I may be the only opportunity for the circle of people we interact with, to see the reality of Jesus.

I was very conscious that they were observing, 24 hours a day, every aspect of how we lived as a family, and that their main knowledge and understanding of how to follow Christ was coming primarily from watching us: how we conducted ourselves; how we interacted with each other and with our children.

There was no avoiding the fact that the reality was, we were teaching them by example – and so that could be either a good or bad example. In such a situation, it is where Paul’s words - “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” - become not a mere platitude, but a serious commitment. But this is true of each of us as followers of Jesus. We are each called to be a permanent advert for the reality and life-changing power of the Kingdom of heaven. So, when someone we know is asked: “Do you know Jesus?”, would they be able to point to us and say: “Yes, I’ve seen Him – just there”?

Richard Buxton

Contents BAPTISMAL SPECIAL compiled by Pastor Rajinder HOW TO STOP BEING YOUR OWN GOD

featuring candidates from

HEALED TO RUN

FROM TERMINAL CANCER

ECC, Petra & Elim Springs

by Barrington King

by Roy McEwen MY JOURNEY OF DIVINE HEALING ELIM ORDINATION by Pastor Mark PRAYER CENTRE TESTIMONIES

by Melrose Mackay

10 11

BHAB GHALE

12 13

8pp PRAYER DIARY

20 21

EVANGELISM & PRAYER

22 23

SUNDAY SERVICES

24 25

BUILDING A HEALTHY

A catalyst for many more...

PULL-OUT

compiled by Tom Ibrahim

WEEKLY MEETINGS WHAT WE BELIEVE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

TO JESUS

WHAT’S ON

COMMUNITY IN CELLS by Veronica Antoine

by Pastor Alex WHEN I GAVE MY LIFE

CALENDAR

26 27

GOD IS GOOD

28 29

BUILDING A NATION

30 31

BUILDING A NATION

by Vanessa Karera

compiled by Ann Vorkel FELLOWSHIP & CONGRATS compiled by Sharon Grant BUILDING A NATION continued

by Jane K Wamae

continued

Senior Minister

EUROPEAN EVENING Editor-in-Chief: Senior Minister Richard Buxton Editor: Berean Services UK Email: bereanservicesuk@gmail.com Photography: Roy McEwen plus various contributors from ECC Cover picture: by Richard Buxton Stock Images: lightstock.com, freepik.com, publicdomainpictures.net, Google images, unsplash.com, pixabay.com Printed by: Deluxe Printers Ltd, London NW10 7NR, Tel: 020 8965 1771 Ealing Christian Centre, 268 Northfield Avenue, Ealing, London W5 4UB Tel: 020 8840 7508 Fax: 020 8840 1461 Email: info@ecc.org.uk Website: www.ecc.org.uk Grapevine is published by Ealing Christian Centre. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Grapevine and the ECC logo are trademarks of Ealing Christian Centre in the United Kingdom where Grapevine circulates. Copyright © Ealing Christian Centre 2018. All rights reserved.

IN PICTURES

If you would like an item to be considered for the next edition of the Grapevine magazine, please email your article to info@ecc.org.uk, marked 'For Grapevine'. Articles for half a page should be no more than 250 words, and for a full page should be no more than 600 words. The Editor reserves the right to edit articles where necessary. The deadline for the AUGUST/SEPTEMBER edition is no later than FRIDAY 29th JUNE.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

BAPTISMAL SERVICE

t was a triumphant evening, watching 30 people getting baptised in water. Testimony after testimony was shared by keen candidates, who showed their love and devotion to the Lord, committing themselves to follow Jesus through water baptism. Included were candidates from Petra (our adopted church) and also our Polish church, which meets at ECC. It was well attended, with a number of people responding to the Gospel appeal. With such an atmosphere of joy and exuberance, it no doubt made an impact on all the family and friends, who had been invited for the evening. Below are some of the testimonies shared by ECC candidates.

Rajinder Buxton Pastor

PETRA Andrea HEPBURN

Daniel SAWAQEDY

Kuldip HUNJAN

ELIM SPRINGS Monika GOZDUR

Anna URBANIAK

Victoria ADEGBESAN ‘I started going to church with my mother, when I was a child. Three years ago, a friend invited me to attend ECC. Since last year, I started to come every Sunday and felt such peace whenever I attended church. My life changed, as Jesus spoke to me through the Word and songs. He died for my sins and always protects me in every situation. I want to live for Him and follow Him.’

Anna MATERNICKA

Pawel

OGRODNICZAK

Agrielle APOLINARO da SILVA ‘Before I gave my life to Jesus, I thought I needed to be a good person and that it wasn’t necessary for me to attend church weekly. I gave my life to Jesus in Brazil. Since then, my life is being transformed by Him. Now I live for Him, as He has paid the price for all my sins on the Cross. Now I am a child of God. He loves me and has given me life.’

Artur CZARNECKI Also baptised was BARTOSZ BATURA

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Sarah ANSAH ‘Since I have given my life to Jesus, He has made me stronger. I had been going to church since I was young, but didn’t really live for Him. Something happened which brought me back to Jesus, and my life started to change since then. I was lost, weak, empty, hopeless and sad before, but today I thank Jesus for dying on the Cross for all my sins, and taking away all my pain and hurt.’

Aaliyah ASARE ‘I thank Jesus for saving me.’

Afua ASIEDU ‘The Lord has changed my life from being a negative person to one who is positive. I used to get into trouble and coming home late, feeling bad. My mum would pray for me and play Christian songs. I would listen to the words, and sing and dance to the music. I am more positive and happier now, and see things in a different light.’

BAPTISMAL SERVICE Rosemary ASIEDU ‘The Lord has forgiven me of all my sins, shame and low self-esteem. I used to have no direction in life, and simply went along with the flow. But now He guides me. I first gave my life to Jesus at secondary school, at a Scripture Union meeting. Today he has changed my life completely around.

Chris GODSON

Mark BEAUMONT ‘Before I met Jesus, my life was unfulfilled, and I didn’t have any sense of direction. I was born into a Christian family, but never truly knew Jesus, as the Word was drowned out by challenges of life. I met my fiancée, who brought me to ECC, and I truly found God. Before, I did things in my own strength, but now I depend on God who brings me comfort and hope.’

‘I was brought up in a Christian home, but rededicated my life to Jesus about three years ago, when I came to ECC. The void in my life has gone since I’ve drawn closer to Jesus. He has saved me from my sins on the Cross, and knowing Him has been the best thing that has happened to me. He has answers to my questions about life.’

Chizoba JACKIE ‘Jesus Christ has forgiven me of all my sins. Before I knew Him, I didn’t understand what it meant to feel free and safe in Him. I came to know Jesus through my husband, and listening to him pray. Today, I have self-worth and feel whole, with a purpose in life. Now I am fulfilled and a much better parent and wife.’

Nina MAIER ‘Jesus died on the Cross for all my sins. He paid the penalty for my sin, and I now have eternal life. I grew up as a Catholic. My friends took me to ECC, and I gave my life to Jesus. Before, my life was a negative spiral and I had anger issues, sometimes making bad choices. Today, even my health has improved with a change in diet. I have developed trust in Jesus and also love for people.’

Rekha KNIGHT

Chantelle JOHNSON ‘I came to know Jesus when my cousin invited me to ECC. Since then my life has changed. I had no direction or purpose before, and lived in a dark place. Now I have confidence, assurance and direction which I lacked before. Jesus also provided me with a place on an acting course at a drama school which I have been wanting to go to since I was 18.’

Kai PLUMMERWALROND

Marion O’BRIEN ‘Jesus has given me a new life. I have received forgiveness for all my sins. He has given me a purpose to live and to love, and He values me as person. In the past, I was brought as a Catholic and attended mass. But today, I know I am a child of God and He has led me to help the homeless by running a charity that helps those who are traumatised.’

Natasha PRICE ‘Before I gave my life to Jesus, I made many bad choices. I was unhappy and empty. I had believed in God, but only used to call on Him whenever I was in trouble. Last October, I decided to go to a Catholic church to become a Catholic, but my friend invited me to the Guest Day at ECC. I decided from then on to get baptised in water at ECC and to follow Jesus. He is my Saviour and I love Him; I’m having a wonderful relationship with Him.’

Sivarendan SIVALOGAN ‘Everyone thought I was a cool kid on the outside, but inside I was so empty. I came to know Jesus through a Christian friend at high school. Today, I have found purpose in Jesus and happiness in life. I am working full time, and also serving Jesus whom I love. He sacrificed His life to save me, and forgave me of all my wrongdoing so I can have a personal relationship with Him.’

Shemi ASUBIOJO

Mary

shared his personal testimony about how Jesus saved him.

also gave her salvation testimony.

‘My sister has been a Christian for a long time. She encouraged me to read the Bible, and I gave my life to Jesus at ECC. My life has changed since I made the commitment to follow Jesus. I believe in Jesus for strength, and that He will provide for all my needs with my family.’

I’m getting baptised because God instructed me to be His and His forever. Jesus died on the Cross for me and for everyone, to cleanse sin from the world. He helps me in so many ways. I can’t count how many times He has helped me.

Amani THOMAS ‘Before I came to know Jesus, my life was hopeless. I gave my life to Him, as I came to church with my family. He has done miracles for me. He died on the Cross to forgive all my sins.’

Nathalia TRUEX ‘My life was empty of meaning, so I knew something was missing in my life. When I turned 20 years of age I began to realise I needed a Saviour, and I found Jesus. He has saved me from so many awful things and bad times. I know now that I do not fear the future, as Jesus has given me such peace and has helped me through unhelpful relationships. He has shown me His undying love.’

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

PRACTICAL TRUTHS

How to stop being your own god

efore submitting our lives to Jesus the Christ, we were our own god. We worshipped the things we did, the things we achieved, the places we went, the things we could achieve because of the people we claimed to know, the things we bought, and generally appreciated our quality of life by ‘things’. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we give up being our own god. Or do we? Do you regularly ‘invite’ the Holy Spirit to come in? Have you ever said or thought God isn’t speaking/listening to you? Have you ever said, or do you believe “We can’t be perfect”? If you’ve said, thought, believed or agreed with any of the above...be very careful...! Paul writes: “I must decrease for Christ to increase” and clearly knows what he is writing about. So if I invite you into my home, who is in charge of that home, you or me? And if I repeatedly invite you in, it means at some point you must have left... Ahem! And there begins the issue with this ‘not-soinnocent’ statement. To invite the Holy Spirit ‘in’ means I must still be in charge!!! A BIG indicator that we have continued being our own god is when we state categorically: “God isn’t listening to me.” What?! How on earth can we know this? Do we exist in the heavens? Can we see God and noticed whether He’s busy or distracted? Clearly not. God is not a man that He should lie, and He gave a promise that whenever we call, He listens. That’s a guaranteed promise. To ‘know’ God isn’t listening is a massive idolatry-indicator, as it assumes you know what God is up to. Problem is, you don’t. God knows what you are up to! Now for the BIGGEST one of all. I have heard pastors and anointed’ men and women use this one: “We cannot be perfect.” Have mercy, Lord. We believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God. Agreed? OK. So Jesus spoke directly, and told His disciples to “be perfect, as your Father in Heaven.” Full stop! He didn’t qualify the requirement, that was it. Be perfect as your Father in Heaven.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Today, people, pastors, anointed men and women, are tripping over themselves trying (badly) to explain away that statement, as though Jesus had got this one ‘wrong’ or somehow Hemeant something else. NO, Jesus meant what He said: Be perfect, as your Father in HEAVEN. To have the confidence to say “You cannot be perfect” - in direct contradiction to Jesus’ words - clearly demonstrates a dangerous complex. How can you contradict the Creator of the universe unless you’re equal to Him? Instead, why not ask the Creator of the universe about what that statement actually means? I’ve always been uncomfortable whenever I’ve heard the statement “We can’t be perfect”, but I didn’t know why. So I asked the Lord to reveal to me what “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven” means. The Holy Spirit edified me immediately. The answer is simple and beautiful: God our Father exists in SPIRIT, in heaven. Now recall what Jesus said about worshippers - we are to live on earth “in SPIRIT and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Please read it. We are called to be perfect in our spirit. So let your love of God be complete; challenge these thoughts, statements and beliefs, and confess the sin of idolatry. It’s a strong statement, and many reading this will dismiss it as “Roy’s being extreme again”. Let’s refer to Numbers 15:22, which says: “Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses—”, and there follows instructions the whole community should follow in repentance and restoration. The point is, we all can sin unintentionally; no one who loves Jesus intends to commit the sin of idolatry, ie. “God isn’t listening to me”; “We can’t be perfect”; “Come in, Holy Spirit.” However, over time, we accept handed-down statements and beliefs that seem harmless - even holy - but when we shine a spiritual light on them, we can see they are not harmless at all, but deeply sinful. Let’s positively change our vocabulary. Be encouraged.

ROY McEWEN

www.Praying.Works

HEALING TESTIMONY

HEALED TO RUN International athlete, Barrington King, is instantly healed of long-term back problems

was under the care of doctors, chiropractors and physiotherapists, and had previously been told - by two physiotherapists - that my right leg was slightly shorter than my left leg. This was causing the pain in my back. The chiropractors’ treatments were costing me money, too. As a matter of fact, one of the physios told me that with my back problem I might not able to run to my full potential and that I should probably quit running altogether. This year marks my 10-year anniversary as a coach. As an athlete, I have been competing for 23 years and have won over 110 medals at different competitions over the years. I compete internationally for Great Britain as a Master athlete in my age group. So far, I have won seven international medals and have travelled to many countries around the world. I’m a qualified sprint coach under UKA (UK Athletics) and I coach and train after work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. I have coached and mentored athletes to successes at National, County and South of England competitions, and have coached 12 champions at 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres. I give God all the glory for these achievements. All the glory belongs to Him! I was attending the Equippers ‘Ministering in the Supernatural’ training course at ECC on how to heal the sick. For those with back problems, we were shown how we can command healing in the Name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, and how the bones then go back into alignment and are healed. I was being ministered to by some of the students on the course, when I noticed that, when the command was given, my shorter leg grew back to the same length as my other leg. I felt a pulling sensation, and then I stood up to test my healing. There was no more pain, and I felt good and really happy that Jesus had healed me. I noticed an improvement in my walking, and the tightness

I’d had in my right lower back was gone! Not only that there were many others in the class who were being healed too. After I received my healing on Friday 16th February 2018, I ran at the Southern Countries Masters Indoors Championships on Sunday 18th February 2018, and won a silver medal in the 200 metres and bronze medal in the 60 metres. My performance was better than last year, and even better than my previous race on 4th February 2018. I have improved so much since my healing by the almighty Saviour Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit! On Saturday 17th February 2018, I was doing some preparation stretches and the enemy tried to sabotage my race. I felt a pain in my left big toe and I wasn’t able to stretch my hip flexor. So I exercised my faith and prayed, and after that I was pain-free. I give all the glory to LORD. After my healing, I also took part in the European Masters Indoors competition in Madrid, Spain from 19th to 24th March 2018. I competed in the 60 metres, the 200 metres and the 4 x 200 metres relay with medals at the end. When doctors, physios, chiropractors have done their best but can do no more, Jesus never fails. It may be temporary with man, but with God it’s permanent healing! My faith in Him has since increased, and I humbly give God thanks. I was delighted to attend the ‘Ministering in the Supernatural’ course at ECC, because I have learnt how to command specifically for problems to go in Jesus’ Name, and to see how God works miraculously. It takes faith, trust and belief in God and in the Word of God. I am now part of ECC ministry team too. Thank You, Jesus.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

HEALING TESTIMONY

OF Y E N R U O J Y M OM DIVINE HEALING FR

TERMINAL CANCER

by Melrose Mackay

n November 2016, I felt a painful lump in my left breast. I knew that I’d had a number of benign cysts from previous ultrasounds, however they’d never caused me pain before, so I decided to go to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor told me I had nothing to worry about, but she would send me to the Royal Marsden Hospital to doublecheck. In December 2016, I went along to the Royal Marsden Hospital where, following a biopsy, I was told that I had an aggressive form of breast cancer. I was told it measured 2.5cm and that it was not only aggressive but the highest grade possible, which meant that it could spread quickly throughout my body. I was numb with shock - and terrified. My mind was racing. I had only been married for two years. I had expected my first experience with hospitals to be to monitor a pregnancy, not cancer. The doctor proceeded to tell me that the only treatment available for my form of breast cancer was chemotherapy, and that I needed to start it immediately because it had already spread to multiple lymph nodes. I was told that I was on the medical team’s radar due to the aggressiveness of my cancer. I started an intensive course of chemotherapy in January 2017. My body was flooded with toxic drugs on a weekly basis in an attempt to rid my body of the cancer. The treatment made me weak, bald and very tired. When I wasn’t having treatment, I slept and prayed. Before every treatment I would compile a list of spiritual songs that I would play, and the nurses would often see me dancing away and singing in my chair. I needed to feel God’s presence sustaining me during such a difficult time.

I received the devastating news that treatment wasn’t working… 8

Devastating news After four months of treatment I received the devastating news that the treatment wasn’t working and, in fact, the main tumour

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

had grown to almost 4cm. The doctors decided to continue the chemotherapy, but didn’t really hold out any hope it would work, as it hadn’t touched the tumour in four months of intensive treatment. If anything, the tumour had grown. I continued to pray, as I knew only God had the power to heal me.

Prayer cloth My sister Maxine stayed behind one Sunday after the service, where she spoke to Pastor Rajinder and explained what was happening with me. Pastor Rajinder anointed a small piece of cloth with oil, and they both prayed over it for my healing. My sister brought the cloth to me and I wore it in my bra every day. As soon as I wore the cloth, I felt a burning sensation where the tumour was and also in my inflamed lymph nodes. I felt what I can only describe as an overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. I knew I was being touched by the Holy Spirit. The burning sensation came and went throughout the whole day. I knew something was happening to the cancerous cells, but I didn’t know what. I had only been used to receiving bad news up until then, but I knew without a doubt that God was with me.

Surgery Two months later, I went for my final biopsy before surgery. I didn’t know at that stage what was happening with the tumour, my lymph nodes, or whether I would need a mastectomy, but I entered the treatment room with a sense of peace I cannot describe. I lay on the bed whilst the doctors prodded and cut into me in order to take their samples. I remember the doctor saying she was having a difficult time finding the tumour.

HEALING TESTIMONY Maxine, Melrose’s sister, tells her story

was with my sister when she received the news she had breast cancer. My first reaction was one of shock and disbelief, preferring to think instead that somehow they had got it wrong. Melrose was always the strong, healthy one, who had been the source of tremendous support for the family. I was with her throughout the whole process. Her husband and I made sure to coordinate time off work and other commitments to care and support her during this very difficult journey. My experience going through this with Melrose was one of helplessness at first, thinking ‘What can I do?’ There were times when my faith was tested - especially when I wasn’t hearing the news I was desperately praying for - but on those occasions I would ring the ECC Prayer Centre and be encouraged. One of Melrose’s favourite poems is ‘Footsteps’, and never had it become so true in our lives: the Lord was indeed carrying us both.

Prayer cloth

As soon as I wore the cloth, I felt a burning sensation where the tumour was and also in my inflamed lymph nodes. I felt what I can only describe as an overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. I then realised she was having difficulty in finding the tumour because it was no longer there!

‘Harmless scar tissue’ The following week I went back for the results of the biopsy, and was told by the surgeon that the cancerous tumour had gone, and that my lymph nodes (which had been full of cancerous cells) were completely clear. The surgeon told me the cancer had turned into harmless scar tissue. The clinical and medical teams were surprised but happy for me. I knew that God had healed me, and I will testify to this whenever I get the opportunity. I have now received my discharge letter from the hospital. From initially being on the hospital’s radar, I now only have to be checked once a year.

It was whilst I was reading healing Scriptures, praying for my sister, that I was drawn in particular to James 5:14-15. That’s when I contacted Pastor Rajinder and explained my sister’s situation to her. She told me about the prayer cloth, and explained Acts 19: 11-12, how handkerchiefs that Paul had merely touched were carried to the sick, and that people would be healed of diseases. Melrose was sick and unable to come to church herself, so I met with Pastor Rajinder after service one Sunday, and received that prayer cloth which I took to my sister straight away. When Melrose was given the all clear, I thought my heart was ready to explode as I couldn’t contain my joy and excitement. I thanked God - and continue to do so for all He has done and continues to do in our lives. I’d also like to thank all those in ECC for their prayers and support.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:14-15

Glory be to God! GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

ELIM ORDINATION

BHAB GHALE

A catalyst

for many more missionaries “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

n the early part of 2004, whilst stewarding at the front doors of ECC, my wife greeted a man whom she thought was a Filipino, like herself. “Komusta?” (which means “How are you?”) she said to this man, who promptly replied: “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you are saying.”

Bhab had grown up, steeped in the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, but one day, after reading a Christian leaflet, which had been handed to his father, Bhab gave his life to Jesus. He led his whole family to Christ, and then witnessed to his whole village where he lived at that time and, before long, a church was established.

Suddenly realising he wasn’t a Filipino after all, my wife then reverted back to English and greeted him again. He was visiting ECC for the first time. Little did he know that soon he was to become ECC’s missionary to Nepal, his native country.

I remember just before my family and I were sent by ECC to the Philippines as missionaries in September 2004, Bhab shared the vision God had put in his heart, which was to see one church and one leader, planted in each village throughout Nepal. This was the beginning of United Vision for Nepal (UVN).

This man was Bhab Ghale.

When I returned on furlough, in the summer of 2005, I was invited to Elim HQ (then based in Cheltenham) to the first Himalayan Working Group (HWG), in order to discuss planting a new work in the Himalayan region. So I invited Bhab to come along with me. Steve Kempton, who later became an Elim missionary to Nepal, chaired the first HWG meeting. There wasn’t an

I get so excited when God touches the hearts of men and women, and births a vision in their heart... 10

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

ELIM ORDINATION We may be totally surprised how, where and to whom He will call us, but it is amazing when we do answer the call and say: “Here I am, Lord, send me!” agenda as such - we basically had a blank sheet of paper but we discussed and prayed where God would be sending Elim in this region of the world. There were about 10 people sitting around the table, and I remember we were each asked to share what was on our heart. However, Bhab and I had already discussed that he would bring along his flash drive containing his vision for Nepal and, should he get the opportunity, he would share his vision. Suffice to say, at the end of Bhab’s presentation, the HWG deduced that God was directing Elim into Nepal via UVN. In October 2006, having completed his theological studies at the London School of Theology, Bhab was sent as ECC’s first missionary to Nepal, along with his wife Kumari and daughter Ichchha. He set up United Vision Nepal (UVN) from his own front room, based in Kathmandu. Now UVN is a highly successful and recognised NGO, working with some of the top international aid organisations.

UVN now serves people with the love of God - especially in the rural and remote villages of Nepal - in holistic development and transformation of lives and communities. Bhab is the CEO of UVN, responsible for overseeing a network of over 170 churches and trained leaders throughout 43 districts in Nepal. He was ordained as an Elim minister at the Elim Leaders Summit in Harrogate in May. Not only was it a very proud and momentous occasion for Bhab and his family, but also for the ECC family. I get so excited when God touches the hearts of men and women, and births a vision in their heart that will influence and impact a group, village, town, city or nation with the Gospel of Jesus. When God gave Isaiah his revelation (Isaiah 6:8), God could only use a vessel that was clean, obedient and prepared. We may be totally surprised how, where and to whom He will call us, but it is amazing when we do answer the call and say: “Here I am, Lord, send me!” I thank God for Bhab and his family. May they be a catalyst for many more missionaries to be trained up and sent around the world, so that those who haven’t heard the true Gospel of Jesus have an opportunity to do so.

MARK KING Pastor

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

PRAYER centre

TESTIMONIES PRAYER CENTRE

Feuding sisters was the reason for this call to the Prayer Centre. There were many differences to sort out and reconciliation was needed, but God intervened even before the discussions started, as the sisters greeted each other with smiles. Praise God.

An aunt requested prayer for her niece who was in a terrible situation. Following prayers, she called back to say that she was now in a much better place and thanks the Lord for answering her prayers.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

020 8799 2199

A lady received a speedy response to prayer when she called at 9am to pray for compensation to come through, and she received notice the same afternoon that it had been granted.

A chest infection meant that this lady had been unable to sleep for five nights. After receiving prayers from the Prayer Centre she called back to say that she was feeling much better and had finally been able to get extended periods of sleep, for which she is thankful to God.

A friend received a double answer to prayer, when (1) her friend met a partner, and (2) she found a job near her home.

A cancer patient had been calling the Prayer Centre over several weeks, seeking God’s miraculous healing. She phoned one morning to say that she had undergone surgery, and all the cancer has been removed, and she is praising God for His faithfulness and supernatural favour.

A daughter hadn’t contacted her mother for two long years, but after receiving prayers from the Prayer Centre, she received a text from her daughter, and gives God the glory.

PRAYER DIARY

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s we continue to pray through the experiences of Peter, and follow the ups and downs of his spiritual life as he progresses to the place where he can fulfil his God-given destiny, we can continue to identify with those experiences. He watches as Jesus teaches His disciples, by example, how to be very different as a leader. He doesn’t exercise authoritarian rule over them, like those in the world but, instead, washes their feet, showing them that in the church, we are to lead others by servant leadership. We observe Peter acting recklessly in fear and impetuous anger, by cutting off the ear of the High Priest’s servant and, when under pressure, failing to keep the promises he rashly made. How bitter his weeping, when he realises how badly he has let Jesus down, deserting Him in His hour of need. But we also see Jesus telling His followers beforehand that satan has desired to sift them as wheat, but our great Intercessor has prayed that they would stand and not fall. Jesus tells His followers to keep watch and pray. We see how the realisation of the resurrection of Jesus - and the power of God exhibited through it - slowly begins to sink into the consciousness of Peter and the other disciples. In time, they would learn how, through the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension into heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit who would live within each believer, enabling him or her to be channels through whom the Holy Spirit can flow in power – power to change character and power to minister in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We watch the disciples toiling away fruitlessly in the fishing expedition they had returned to, even though Jesus had already told them their job and commission now was to fish for men and women. Fruitfulness would come only as they abide or remain in Christ, not trying to succeed in their own strength alone. As they follow the instructions of Jesus, their fruitlessness turns into an abundance. We feel for Peter as Jesus asks him three times: “Peter, do you truly love Me?” and can wonder how we would feel if Jesus asked us the same question. And yet we can be encouraged and motivated by the way we see Jesus helping Peter confront his failure, yet not writing him off, but rather recommissioning him with the words: “Feed My sheep.” And when Peter asks Jesus what was the future of his friend, John, we observe how Jesus teaches him not to focus on what other people are doing, but rather to focus solely on what God wants of his life, so he can carry it out. So, as we continue to pray through Peter’s experiences, we are asking God to take us as individuals and as a church from our current starting point, to be able to fulfil the high calling He is calling us to.

13:1-11 1 John Washed by Jesus

1. Since, when we put our faith in You, You wash all our sins away, making us totally clean in Your sight, help us live in a way that brings You honour, O Lord. 2. Recognising we need to come to You daily to be forgiven for our failings, please forgive us today for any area of our lives that have fallen short of Your standards. 3. Holy Spirit, put a spotlight on any area our lives that You want us to deal with, so we can bring it to our God for cleansing. 4. Holy Spirit, please help us to change from glory to glory, forsaking all that is displeasing to You. 5. For all those reading this now, who struggle to accept fully the free gift of total forgiveness in Christ, liberate them now. John 13:12-17 The example of Jesus (1) 1. Since Your first coming was as a servant and not as a judge, Lord Jesus, motivate our hearts to imitate all Your ways.

2. Give us truly the heart of a servant of God. 3. Holy Spirit, bring to our minds those areas of our lives that do not reflect spiritual servanthood, and help us to change. 4. Show us, O Lord, how You want us to serve You in ways we are not doing now. 5. Help us to trust You to lift us up, and not for us to push our way forward by our own strivings. John 13:12-17 The example of Jesus (2) 1. Holy Spirit, search our hearts right now and reveal to us those areas of our lives that we have not submitted to Your Lordship, and cause us to repent. 2. Show us in what ways we are not being servants in our own homes, towards our own families, and cause us to change. 3. Show us in what ways we are not being servants in the church, and reveal to us now what You want us to do differently from now onwards. 4. Lord, help us to become more and more like Jesus in all our ways,

our thoughts, our actions, our words and our ambitions. 5. Help us to say like Isaiah: “Here I am, Lord. Send me!” and anoint us now for the task. Luke 22 31-32 Satan desires to sift you 1. Lord, open our eyes to the reality of the spirit world, and keep us always alert to spiritual attack. 2. Cause us to examine our lives, so that we do not allow the devil a foothold through our sin. 3. Keep us walking close to Uou, O Lord, and to ensure that we always have our spiritual armour on (Ephesians 6:11-18). 4. Keep us from temptation, O Lord, and deliver us from the evil one. 5. When times are difficult, teach us to discern the difference between the discipline of the Lord, the consequences of our own poor choices, and an actual spiritual attack. Matthew 26:31-35 Rash promises 1. Lord, keep us from the pride that blinds us to our own weaknesses and shortcomings.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Bible Readings and Prayer Points for Individual and Church Spiritual Growth

Praying through the Apostle Peter’s experiences with Jesus - Extracts from the Gospels (2)

PRAYER DIARY

2. Develop within us the integrity of character that is the hallmark of a true follower of Jesus. 3. Let us be those people whose ‘Yes’ always means ‘Yes’ and our ‘No’ always means ‘No’. 4. Holy Spirit, convict our consciences so that we always keep our word, even if it hurts to do so. 5. May the promises we make be only those that are wise, and ones that are led of Your Spirit. Matthew 26:36-38 Keep watch 1. Lord, so deepen our relationship with You that we know Your thoughts and feelings. 2. Thank You for the privilege of being able to spend time in Your presence in prayer; may we not neglect or abuse that privilege. 3. Lord, teach us to pray. 4. Help us to prioritise all we need to do, so that we do not neglect our time in prayer with You. 5. Show us each day how You want us to pray, and what You want us to pray for. Matthew 26:39-45 Not my will, but Your will 1. As You submitted fully to the Father’s will, and laid down Your life for our sakes, Lord Jesus, help us to imitate You. 2. Forgive us for any selfishness that we continue to exhibit, and help us to submit our wills to the will of God. 3. O God, just as Jesus fulfilled the perfect destiny for His life, by submitting to the Father’s will, help us to do the same with our lives. 4. Father, help us to trust You fully, so that we are willing to surrender totally to Your will for our lives. 5. We pray now, O Lord: “Not my will, but Your will be done in my life.” John 18:1-11 Put your sword away 1. Lord, forgive us when we react with anger that comes from our old fallen nature, and help us to change. 2. Holy Spirit, develop within us our new spiritual nature that thinks and acts like Jesus. 3. Bring to our remembrance any people we have hurt by our anger, and give us the grace to now seek their forgiveness.

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4. Help us to experience the truth of the verse that says: ‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger’. 5. For our battles, help us always to rely on the Sword of Your Spirit that is, the Word of God - and not on the strength of our anger. John 18:12-18 Denying Jesus 1. Lord, forgive us for those times we have denied You with our words, and help us to change. 2. Lord, forgive us when our actions have been a denial of our Christian testimony, and give us renewed courage. 3. Give us the strength and the grace to make a stand for the truth of the Gospel - no matter how hard it may be. 4. Help us this day to share the good news of the Gospel with someone. 5. Holy Spirit, make us bold, strong and courageous; may we continually keep being filled with the Spirit to overflowing.

10Compassion towards our enemies (1) Luke 22:50-53

1. Lord, give us Your grace and compassion, even towards those who seek our harm. 2. Teach us not to harbour feelings of revenge in our hearts, but to do good to those who mistreat us. 3. We release from our resentment and anger, right now, all those who have hurt us. 4. We give to those who have hurt us, the free gift of forgiveness for everything they have done. 5. Enable us, by forgiving others, to receive our own inner healing and Your total peace.

11Compassion towards our enemies (2)

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Luke 22:50-53

1. Give us hearts of pity towards those who resort to violence, as we pray now for those we know who are like that, asking You would change them by Your Spirit. 2. Help them, and save all those we know who openly reject Christ, O Lord. 3. Give us the right words that bring healing to those who are lost in sin and do not know the ways of Christ. 4. Give us the faith, confidence and boldness to pray for the sick and to see them healed.

5. Lord, help us, like You, always to render good for evil. Luke 22:54-62 Peter wept bitterly 1. Lord, teach us the true nature of the ugliness of sin so we always avoid it. 2. May we never regard sin lightly but, when we fail, to bring it all to You in true repentance. 3. Holy Spirit, we pray for Your moving over Your Church to bring a deep conviction of sin and a genuine repentance, 4. Help us to feel how You feel about the sin of our nation, O Lord, so that we may weep in repentance and intercession for a nation that has lost its way. 5. Move in revival power through Your Church, O Lord, turning many from sin to Christ. Mark 16:1-7 Go and tell Peter 1. Since You know what really lies in our hearts, not only the bad but also the good, help us to grow in the good. 2. Since You know the future of each one of us and do not write us off when we fail, encourage us to seek Your perfect will for our lives. 3. Lord, as we reflect on the times we have failed You, search our hearts and show us the parts within us that You want to make stronger in the future. 4. Teach us that without You we are nothing, but with You, You can achieve much through each of us. 5. Holy Spirit, help us to understand who we are in Christ, so we can move forward in His victory and not remain stuck in our own defeat. Luke 24:1-12 Revelation of resurrection power (1) 1. Make us continually grateful for the new life that comes through our relationship with the resurrected Christ. 2. Help us to fully grasp the power of the new life that comes through our relationship with You, and cause us to grow spiritually. 3. When You rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, You sent Your Holy Spirit, so help us move in the power of Your Holy Spirit. 4. Holy Spirit, we invite You to change us by that same resurrection power. 5. Father, fill us with Your Spirit whom You have given to us through Jesus, so His influence overflows from us to others. Luke 24:1-12 Revelation of resurrection power (2) 1. Reveal to each of us and help us understand the power we have received by virtue of being made children of God.

PRAYER DIARY

June 2018 A

s we follow the life of Peter in these extracts from the gospels, we start to see a man who has a heart seriously searching after knowing his God fully. When his brother Andrew invites him to meet Jesus, whom Andrew has already identified as the Messiah the Jews were waiting and longing for, Peter at once goes to find out for himself. After his first encounter with the Son of God, whose first words were to give him the name Peter, meaning ‘the rock’, there was no going back. He became a devout follower of Jesus. His life was changed, not just by the teaching of Jesus, but also by His lifestyle, from whom he was to learn how to be a Spirit-filled follower, passionate for the things of God and the spreading of His Kingdom on earth. So he observes how Jesus presents the Gospel as freedom from sin, and confirmed by the evident power of the Holy Spirit operating through Him, not just in the synagogues but out in the fields, in people’s homes and on the streets. He watches as Jesus confronts the powers of darkness that hold people captive, and sees how Jesus sets people free from demonisation. He observes how the Gospel also releases the power of God to heal all manner of sicknesses. Peter listens as Jesus urges His followers to pray for more harvesters, because the harvest is so great and the workers are so few in comparison. He observes Jesus’ compassion for the lost, and His passion to reach them with salvation and eternal life. In a different metaphor, Jesus calls His followers to be fishers of men. We can watch and identify with Peter as he acknowledges his sinfulness before the sinless Christ, and wonders incredulously when Jesus invites His disciples to feed the 5,000 - with the little that is found among them - and then effortlessly performs a creative miracle. His faith rises to stepping out of the boat to walk on water next to Jesus, and then it crashes as his rational mind takes over, starting to reason as he sees the natural elements swirling around him. We can identify with him as his understanding grows to encompass the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and declaring that to be the case. And then receiving Jesus’ declaration that he would be used by the Lord, as Jesus builds His Church, which the gates of Hades would not overcome. And yet, within a short time, from that spiritual high, we see him allowing himself to be influenced by satan, in telling Jesus He cannot go to the Cross, earning a grave rebuke from the One he had earlier acknowledged to be the Christ, the Lord over all. We take comfort from the fact that Jesus sees us, as He saw Peter, not as he was then, but as the man of mature faith Peter would become. We see him greatly confused on the Mount of Transfiguration, as he desperately tries to grasp and understand the supernatural dimension of this Jesus of Nazareth, with Peter’s mumblings overridden by the voice of God telling him to listen to His Son, Jesus. He learns from Jesus the need to come with a childlike faith, to walk in a constant state of forgiveness of others, and that there is no going back - no matter how hard it becomes as a follower of Jesus. In short, we see Peter as a fallible human being, just like you and me. And yet we see him learning from his mistakes and failings, his low points and his high points, until finally fulfilling the calling and destiny God had planned for him in his life on this earth. So, as we pray through his experiences, we are asking God to shape us into the people He wants us to be, so that we can live and minister in the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit, flowing through our individual lives and our collective lives as a church, to accomplish what our heavenly Father desires from, and has planned for, each one of our lives. 1:35-40 1 John Spending the day with Jesus

1. Despite busy lives, give us hearts and minds that always desire to spend time with You, Lord. 2. Help us to so organise our lives so we do not neglect time to spend in prayer and with Your Word. 3. Holy Spirit, burden our hearts to seek Jesus more and more. 4. Jesus, help us to see You more clearly, love You more dearly and follow You more nearly, day by day.

5. Motivate us to achieve greater things as we understand that, like Peter, You see us, not just as who we are now, but as who we can become and what we can achieve, in Christ. John 1:41-42 Peter, the rock 1. Lord, just as You changed Simon Peter, so work in our lives, so we are also radically transformed, fulfilling our full potential in Christ. 2. Help us deepen our faith to be always solidly grounded on our Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Readings and Prayer Points for Individual and Church Spiritual Growth

Praying through the Apostle Peter’s experiences with Jesus - Extracts from the Gospels (1)

3. Help us each to accomplish the destiny You have planned for us, so we do not miss it through careless choices. 4. Cause us to be people who others want to come to for advice and counsel, because they see our unwavering faith in Christ. 5. Like Andrew, enable us to be people who bring others to Jesus, especially those of our own families.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

PRAYER DIARY

1:16-20 3 Mark “Come, follow Me”

June 2018 1:32-34 6 Mark Driving out demons

1. Help us, O Lord, to make You our first priority and to love You with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. 2. Cause us to follow Jesus in having a Christlike character. 3. Help us to follow Jesus in our actions, speech, attitudes and lifestyle. 4. Enable us to follow Jesus by having a deep measure of faith that pleases You, O God. 5. Empower us to follow Jesus and, in His Name, to heal the sick, cast out demons, and see the unsaved accept Christ as Saviour and Lord. Mark 1:21-28 Overcoming spiritual opposition 1. Because You have already defeated the devil and all the powers of darkness, triumphing over them by the Cross, help us walk daily as overcomers. 2. Since we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world, cause us to be careful to put on all our spiritual armour. 3. Lord, keep us close to You, so that we will always be able to stand our ground firmly. 4. Cause our faith to be such that, at all times, it will be a shield to extinguish all the flaming arrows sent by the evil one. 5. Keep our eyes fixed on You, O Lord, and not on the things the devil may be doing around us to distract us or pull us down. Mark 1:29-31 Healing the sick 1. Help us to break any fear when it comes to praying for healing the sick and, instead, to pray boldly in faith, believing. 2. We pray for those we know who are sick, and command healing for their bodies now, in the Name of Jesus. 3. Raise up more and more of Your people, who have the boldness to step out in faith and use the charismatic gifts. 4. We pray for the release of all Your charismatic gifts: prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, words of wisdom and words of knowledge. 5. We pray for the release in Your church of the gifts of discernment of spirits, faith, healing and miracles for Your glory. GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

1. Lord, cause all those in the church who need deliverance to be set free. 2. Restore to Your wider Church the understanding and need for the ministry of deliverance and the desire to minister in that area. 3. Enable us to be constantly faithful to the words of the Great Commission, to drive out demons and so see people set free. 4. Let Your Church rise up, wise, powerful and successful in all warfare against the powers of darkness. 5. We pray for our missionaries in places particularly exposed to spiritual attack, asking that You would watch over and keep them at all times. Mark 1:35-39 Jesus and prayer 1. Lord Jesus, teach us to understand that if You needed time to pray, then we do even more so. 2. Help us to start each day in prayer with You, O Lord, before the busyness of the day begins. 3. Despite how busy we may be, enable us to give prayer the priority it requires. 4. Move over Your church, O Lord, removing all apathy, slumber and neglect, and draw us to pray. 5. Lord, give us hearts and spirits that meditate upon You and Your Word, day and night. Matthew 9:35-10:2 Workers for the harvest field 1. Heavenly Father, please continually raise up more workers from amongst us to send to Your harvest field. 2. Give us a compassion for the crowds who have not yet found the true God, that motivates us to ‘Go’. 3. Save the lost in all our personal areas of influence, O Lord. 4. Give us ears to hear what You are saying to us, Holy Spirit, in every opportunity for witnessing or evangelism. 5. Here we are, O Lord, send each of us. Matthew 10:3-10 Preach the message 1. Surprise us, O Lord, with the opportunities You give us to share the Gospel with those who do not know You.

2. Lead us specifically to those whose hearts are open to receive the Gospel message, we pray. 3. Cause us to remember, Holy Spirit, that it is You who enables people to be born again, and not the cleverness of our arguments. 4. Give us the wisdom we need with each individual we share Christ with. 5. Help us to know when to speak and when it is wise to stay silent and, instead, let our lifestyle be a witness for Christ. Luke 5:1-7 “Because You say so, Jesus” 1. Teach us, O Lord, that obedience to Your Word always brings blessing. 2. Help us to trust and obey You - even when we do not understand. 3. Enable us always to be able to pray: “Not my will but Your will be done, O Lord.” 4. Cause us to remember and act upon Your Word that says: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” 5. Lord, search our hearts, and reveal to us any areas of our lives where we are not being obedient to You, and help us to change. Luke 5:8 Sinfulness 1. Bring conviction on Your church, O Lord, so we always see sin with the same seriousness that You do. 2. Lord, when we realise we have fallen short of Your standards and Your glory, forgive us and help us move forward stronger. 3. Help us daily to crucify our old nature and keep it crucified. 4. As we acknowledge Your sinlessness, O Lord, help us to strive to become more like You. 5. As we thank You for the transforming power of the Cross, transform our lives daily to become effective servants of Christ. Luke 5:9-11 Fishers of men 1. Help us to love the lost like You love the lost, O Lord. 2. Raise up continually from among us, witnesses, evangelists and missionaries, we pray. 3. Make all the missionaries we know fruitful, as they labour for You, O Lord.

PRAYER DIARY

June 2018

not on the storm raging around us. 4. Lord, help us to exercise the faith within us, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, so we see Your hand of power. 5. Lord, cause us to grow in faith, in order to exercise the gifts of Your Holy Spirit more and more. Matthew 14:31-36 Why did you doubt? 1. Lord, forgive us the sin of unbelief, and help us always to believe You at all times. 2. Help us guard our minds against our old nature putting doubts into our minds about anything You have said in Your Word. 3. Help us guard our minds against doubts put into our minds by enemy spirit powers. 4. Enable us daily to put on the spiritual armour of God, and to take our stand effectively. 5. For any mountains in our lives right now, O God, we command them to be removed right now in Jesus’ Name. Matthew 16:13-15 You are the Christ 1. Since You are Lord over all, help us submit totally to You, so You can be glorified in our lives. 2. Expand our minds, Holy Spirit, to understand the greatness, the power and the glory of our God, so we can trust without question. 3. Enable our minds to understand and act upon the fact that Jesus has delegated His power to us, His church, and so to go boldly in His Name. 4. Since Christ is God, and He gave His all for us, cause us to hold back nothing of ourselves from You, O Lord. 5. Rise up in our midst, Lord Jesus, and let Your glory shine in Your church. Matthew 17:16-20 I will build My Church 1. Lord, as we grasp that You build Your Church, not us, but You choose to work through us, help us to be ready, prepared and available to You. 2. As we thank You that all around the world You are building Your Church like never before, do not pass us by, O Lord. 3. Help us grasp the full extent of the authority You have delegated to us, so that we may use it and not neglect it.

4. Help us to take every opportunity to allow You to build Your Church through us, Lord Jesus. 5. Rise up in the UK, restore and build Your Church here once again in this nation. Matthew 16:21-33 Never, Lord! 1. Lord, help us never to say “No” to You. 2. Give us the wisdom to see when our words, actions or attitudes give a door of opportunity to the devil, and give us the wisdom to change. 3. Keep us close to You, O Lord, so that we may keep our minds on the things of God and not on the things of men. 4. Give us the humility to realise when we are being a stumbling block to You or others, O God, and the grace to change. 5. May our promises to You, O Lord, only ever be “Yes” and “Amen”. Matthew 16:24 Take up your cross 1. Lord, You never promised the Christian life would be easy, so help us to take up our cross daily and follow You. 2. Help us to remember that You discipline those You love, so that we may accept Your discipline, without complaint. 3. Lord, just as carrying heavy weights cause muscles to grow strong, use the burdens of life that beset us, to cause our spiritual muscles to grow strong. 4. May everything we do, Lord Jesus, be an expression of following You. 5. Holy Spirit, help us to deny ourselves. and to learn to put God and others before ourselves. Matthew 16:25-28 He will reward each person 1. As we remember that one day we will each stand before You to give an account of our Christian lives, keep us vigilant, O Lord. 2. Whether You have given us one talent, two talents or five talents, help us to use them wisely and faithfully in Your service, we pray. 3. We pray that all Christians we know, who are backslidden, will be restored again to being on fire for You. 4. Lord, keep us praying until we see You manifested in our midst in all Your glory.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Bible Readings and Prayer Points for Individual and Church Spiritual Growth

4. Prosper all aspects of the work of evangelism in our church, by individuals and Discipleship Cells, we pray. 5. Teach us how to allow Your Spirit to work through us to become effective fishers of men, we pray. Matthew 14:13-21 You feed them 1. Lord, cause the people of our nation, who have so lost their way, to realise they need the spiritual food of Your Word. 2. As we read Your Word, open our minds to understand and remember it, so that we may feed the spiritually hungry around us. 3. Give us the same compassion for the poor that You have, and give us generous hearts to help those in need. 4. Give us open hearts to give to the work of missions that labour among the poor and needy to give physical and spiritual nourishment. 5. Lord, in comparison with most of the world, we have plenty, so guide us by Your Spirit to where You want us to give. Matthew 14:22-26 Overcoming fear 1. Lord, cause our relationship with You be so close that Your perfect love casts out all our fear. 2. Deepen our trust in You, O Lord, so that we may not succumb to needless fear or worry. 3. Enable us always to act positively in the knowledge that ‘Greater is He who is within us, than he that is in the world.’ 4. Lord, You have told us not to be worried or anxious, so forgive us when we sin in this area, and help us to trust You more. 5. We take authority right now over any spirit of fear troubling us, or any amongst us, and command it to leave now in Jesus’ Name! Matthew 14:27-30 Walking on water 1. Lord, help us to truly understand and act in the knowledge that, with God, all things are possible - not just in the Bible times, but right now. 2. Cause us to live out the truth of the words ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength’. 3. In times of storm, teach us to keep our eyes fixed on You, and

PRAYER DIARY

5. Lord, let our lives be lost in You, so that You may use us to the full extent of Your desire. Matthew 17:1-4 The mountain top 1. As the mountain top represents the place of meeting with God, give us our own ‘mountain-top’ experiences. 2. In the same way Moses was instructed on the mountain top, in our quiet times with You, by Your Spirit, show us Your will. 3. As Elijah saw the fire of God fall on Mount Carmel, let Your fire descend on us to purify and to empower, 4. As Elijah heard Your still, small voice on Mount Horeb, may our spirits always be open to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice. 5. Show Your glory in the midst of Your church, O Lord, and Your power to save, heal and do all kinds of miracles. Matthew 17:5-13 Listen to My Son 1. Give us ears to hear what You are saying to us, Holy Spirit, and what Your Word to us is today. 2. Give us ears to hear what You are saying to Your Church, Holy Spirit, and give us the desire to act upon it. 3. Speak to us daily through Your Word as we read it, we ask. 4. Speak to us through words of prophecy, we pray. 5. Holy Spirit, speak directly into our spirits, and help us discern Your inner voice. Matthew 17:24-27 Paying taxes 1. Lord, since it is Your will that we pay our taxes, though it may be difficult at times, help us to do so honestly and without complaint. 2. We pray You would give to those who govern us at a national level, wisdom as to how to spend our taxes beneficially. 3. We pray You would also give wisdom to those who govern us at a local level as to how to spend our taxes beneficially. 4. We pray for our national leaders and government that they may govern justly. 5. We pray You would guide the lives of our Queen, the royal family and the members of the Houses of Parliament, and the decisions and laws they pass.

June 2018 Matthew 18:1-14

25Like little children

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

1. When it comes to trusting You and Your Word, O God, give us the faith and innocence of a child. 2. Help us to humble ourselves like a child, so that You will be able to raise us up for Your glory. 3. Lord, if we are carrying doubts, cynicism or unbelief, enable us to cast them off and simply trust You. 4. We do believe, Lord, but please help in any of our unbelief. 5. Never let us reach the point where we cease to learn from You, but make us always hungry for You and your Word. Matthew 18:15-21 Where two agree 1. Lord, for each one of us who is out of fellowship with a brother or sister in Christ, convict them, and cause the unity of the Spirit to be restored. 2. Lord, bring a total, complete and powerful unity to Your church that will enable You to do awesome things through us. 3. Lord, as we pray for the revival of Your Church in this nation, prepare us for a visitation of God. 4. Convict our hearts of any disunity we may be guilty of that would hinder a move of Your Spirit. 5. Lord Jesus, refine us, Your church, so that You may take Your place amongst us, and be seen manifestly at work in Your church. Matthew 18:21-22 Constant forgiveness 1. Give us hearts that are compassionate and quick to forgive, dear Lord. 2. Holy Spirit, bring to our remembrance any person we need to forgive right now, so we may do so. 3. Holy Spirit, if we are holding grudges, reveal it to our spirits, and enable us to let them go. 4. We forgive and release now any person who has ever hurt or wronged us, asking You would bless them in Jesus’ Name. 5. Help us not to keep an account of wrongs done to us, or a record of how many times we have forgiven, we pray.

Matthew 18:23-35

28This is how my Heavenly Father will

treat you 1. Heavenly Father, if we are out of fellowship with You through unforgiveness, please forgive us and help us release that person. 2. Help us to discern the differences between the devil troubling us and You, heavenly Father, disciplining us. 3. Help us to discern the difference between Your discipline and the consequences of us making poor choices. 4. We pray that You would help all families we know, where relationships are strained and forgiveness is needed, to be given, O Lord. 5. Help all those of our friends or work colleagues, where forgiveness is needed, to be able to give it, O Lord. John 6:60-65 A hard teaching 1. Lord, help us never to choose the easy path of compromise, but always the narrow path of following Your Word. 2. May we never stop preaching the message of the Cross, the need for repentance and salvation, just because some people are offended by the Gospel. 3. In every pulpit up and down our land, where Your Word is fully and faithfully preached, O Lord, may it accomplish everything You desire. 4. We pray You, Holy Spirit, would visit with fire and bring radical transformation to those churches in which the Word of God is not fully believed or preached. 5. May we never water down Your Word, O God, but always to share the Gospel, the whole Gospel and nothing but the Gospel. John 6:66-71 No turning back 1. Having known and accepted You, Lord Jesus, God forbid we should ever turn back. 2. Lord Jesus, we believe You are the Holy One of God, so enable us to live as those whose bodies are temples of the living God. 3. For those we know who are struggling in their Christian lives, strengthen them and help them move forward, we pray. 4. Help us discern true believers from those who have an outward appearance of spirituality only, so that we may not be led astray. 5. Lord, to whom can we go but You? You alone have the words of eternal life, so help us live lives of thankfulness.

PRAYER DIARY

July 2018

are different and that Your divine favour is upon us. 4. Lord Jesus, if there are any parts of our lives we have still not surrendered to Your lordship, we repent and do so now. 5. Help us to be good stewards of the power and authority You have delegated to us, neither neglecting it nor abusing it. John 21:6-9 The Lord in our midst (2) 1. Lord, as a church, may we never be like the church at Laodicea, at whose door You were standing, knocking to come in. 2. Jesus, be Lord of this church in all areas and at all times. 3. May we live so close to You as a church that we are known as a church where the presence of God dwells. 4. Lord, be so manifest in our midst that we always see You moving in revival power. 5. Rise up amongst us, Lord Jesus, take Your place, exercise Your will and fulfil Your plans and desires for this church, to bring You glory. John 21:10-14 A miraculous catch (1) 1. Lord, make us successful fishers of men and women. 2. Thank You for those we see saved, but turn the trickle into a stream and then into a river. 3. Cause us to remember we cannot save anyone, but give us Your wisdom and anointing to be used to lead others to Christ. 4. As we pray for all the unsaved members of our family, help us to lead them to You, O Lord. 5. We pray for all our unsaved friends and work colleagues, asking You would help us to lead them to You. John 21:10-14 A miraculous catch (2) 1.Lord, make Your church a place where all are fishers of men and women. 2.Give us, as a church, a catch of ‘fish’ so great only You will be able to help us handle it. 3.Help us to prepare ourselves for those unsaved people You give to us, so we can properly care for them as they get saved. 4.Holy Spirit, show us your strategy for evangelism at this particular time and this particular place, so we may be successful.

5.Show us where and how to cast our nets, O Lord, so we may always be fruitful in evangelism. John 21:15-16 Do you truly love Me? (1) 1. Lord, help us to love You with all our heart. 2. Lord, help us to love You with all our soul. 3. Lord, help us to love You with all our mind. 4. Lord, help us to love You with all our strength. 5. Lord, help us to love You with every fibre of our being. John 21: 15-16 Do you truly love Me? (2) 1. Search our hearts, O Lord, and reveal to us the honest measure of our love for You. 2. Holy Spirit, help us in our weaknesses, and cause our love for Jesus to grow stronger and stronger. 3. For those of our neighbours we fail to love as ourselves, we now repent and ask for You to give us the grace to love them. 4. We forgive and release all those people now who have hurt us, so we can begin to love like Jesus. 5. Help us now to love our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we can see, so that we can then love You, O God, whom we cannot see. John 21:15-16 Do you truly love Me? (3) 1. Lord, for the times our love for You is weak or when our words and actions let You down, help us to resolve to express our love for You through our lifestyles. 2. Cause us to be a church where all people can see and sense the love we have for one another and for You. 3. As a church, continually show us creative ways how to put love into action, in a way that glorifies You. 4. Give us a genuine and infectious love for all people, of every background, temperament, class, personality that helps them come into wholeness in Christ. 5. Teach us to love the lost and to demonstrate it by carrying out the ‘Great Commandment’ to reach all people. John 21:17 Feed My sheep (1) 1. As we pray for all the new Christians coming into our midst,

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Bible Readings and Prayer Points for Individual and Church Spiritual Growth

2. Lord, let Your resurrection power that defeated sin, enable us to constantly put to death our tendency to sin. 3. Lord, let Your resurrection power that defeated the devil, so work through us that we live in victory over the powers of darkness. 4. Let us not give the devil a foothold in our lives and thereby be robbed of Your power in our lives. 5. Let God arise and Your enemies be scattered! John 21:1-5 Fruitless toil (1) 1. Lord, cause us to remember that we can achieve nothing of eternal value in our own strength, no matter how talented we are. 2. Reveal to us those things we are currently doing that are motivated by our own ideas but are not Your ideas, and show us what we need to change. 3. Unless we abide in You, O Lord, we will bear no fruit, so teach us to abide in You. 4. Lord, may we never sacrifice our calling on the altar of ambition. 5. Teach us to recognise when there is a difference between the ambition of our natural desires and the calling and direction of God on our lives. John 21:1-5 Fruitless toil (2) 1. Lord, reveal to us every area of church life where we are labouring fruitlessly because we are not acting by the leading of Your Spirit. 2. If our ambitions coincide with Your desires for our lives, then prosper the work of our hands. 3. If our ambitions do not coincide with Your desire for our lives, then show us the direction that You want our lives to take. 4. As we now surrender our lives and our futures to You, give us the courage to make changes where changes are needed. 5. As we pray for Your church, O Lord, reveal to us how we can be fruitful in every area of ministry. John 21:6-9 The Lord in our midst (1) 1. May we never lose sight of the fact that You are always with us, Jesus, so that we need fear nothing. 2. Teach us to live with the realisation that You are with us always, and for all our thoughts, speech and actions to be influenced accordingly. 3. May we live so close to You as individuals that people can see we

PRAYER DIARY

help us to feed them and bring them to maturity. 2. We pray that You would guide the leaders of all the Discipleship Cell groups to ensure all the members mature in the Word of God. 3. Cause all our children and their Sunday class teachers to grow and mature in the Word of God. 4. Cause all our youth and their leaders to grow into maturity by the Word of God. 5. Cause all the adults in the church to grow in the Lord through the Word of God. John 21:17 Feed My sheep (2) 1. We pray You would guide, empower and anoint all those who preach and teach in the church to bring the very words of God. 2. Anoint all the Discipleship Cell leaders in their ministries week by week. 3. Help us to be disciplined enough to be continually feeding on the Word of God, so that we are growing in knowledge and wisdom daily. 4. Help all the parents in the church to teach their children from the Word of God. 5. Cause the times of devotions in the families in the church to be regular, dynamic, powerful and effective. John 21:18-19 Follow Me! (1) 1. Teach us, Lord, to follow You in all our ways. 2. Lord, help us to be doers of Your Word and not just hearers only. 3. Cause us to be led by Your Spirit and not be like the Pharisees, who kept the letter of the law but did not follow the spirit of the law. 4. Teach us the way of humility, so that in Your time You can raise us up. 5. Help us crucify our old nature, so that our desires are always to walk in the Spirit and follow Jesus in everything. John 21:18-19 Follow Me! (2) 1. Give us the patience to wait on You, Lord, until we have learned Your will for each of our lives. 2. Help us to follow You in the pathway of servanthood. 3. Help us to follow You in the outliving of the fruit of the Spirit:

July 2018 29

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 4. Help us to follow You in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit: tongues, interpretation, prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, discernment of spirits, faith, healings and miracles. 5. Help us to follow You in perfectly fulfilling the Father’s will for each of our lives. John 21:20-25 God’s will for others (1) 1. We pray that Your grace would be sufficient for the persecuted church throughout the world in their time of need. 2. Bless Christians, who are rich in this world’s goods, to enable them to be a blessing to others out of their material blessings. 3. Bless all Christians who are poor; may their spiritual blessings outweigh their material poverty. 4. Help all Christians we know, who are carrying heavy burdens of one sort or another, and also help us to help them. 5. May we always be able to say: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” John 21:20-23 God’s will for others (2) 1. Lord, we pray You would prosper and bless the lives of each of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 2. Keep us from being envious of the lot of others, but rather to be content with the lot you have given each of us. 3. For those of our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are struggling to find your will for their lives, we pray you would help and guide them till they find it. 4. Give us wisdom to be able to give wise and godly counsel to those who seek our advice. 5. Help us to hear your voice saying: “This is the way, walk in it.” John 21:24-25 True testimony 1. Lord, help each of us to be a true and living testimony to the lifechanging power of Jesus Christ. 2. We pray you would continue to do dynamic signs and wonders amongst us, as a continuous testimony to Your power and the truth of Your Word.

3. Give us the courage to take You at Your Word and to step out in faith, so we continually have testimonies, on a daily basis, of what You are doing. 4. Lord, move in revival power among us, so that men and women may see and hear the testimony of a true and living God. 5. May our church be known as a place of the miraculous, where people can find the true and living God and continually see His presence and power in our midst.

N 1 OTES

EVANGELISM & PRAYER @ ECC LOCAL LIGHTHOUSE

EVANGELISM ALL WELCOME SECOND Saturday of each month

11am to 1pm

Saturday 9th June

Saturday 7th July

Acton Brentford Chiswick Greenford Hanwell Hayes Northfields Northolt Shepherd’s Bush Southall Twickenham Uxbridge Wembley West Ealing

Acton Brentford Chiswick Ealing Broadway Greenford Harrow Hayes Hounslow Northfields Northolt Shepherd’s Bush Southall Wembley West Drayton

24/7 PRAYER CENTRE

Call our confidential prayer line for ANY need 24 hours a day 7 days a week

020 8799 2199 DAILY REVIVAL PRAYER MEETINGS Monday to Friday Morning meetings 10.00am to 11.00am - Annexe Room 2* EVENing meetings 6.00pm to 7.00pm - Foyer (*accessible from Northfields Avenue)

WEEKLY TUESDAY NIGHT PRAYER MEETING 7.30pm to 9.15pm - Foyer

MONTHLY REVIVAL & HEALING MEETINGS Second Sunday evening of every month at 6.30pm Sunday 10th June Sunday 8th July

DELIVERANCE MEETINGS

POLISH FELLOWSHIP Elim Springs Every Sunday @ 2:30pm In the FOYER

ECC Japanese Fellowship Every Sunday @ 2:30pm In the MAIN AUDITORIUM For details, please contact AOGU & CHISATO TATEYAMA

info@eccj.org.uk

For ECC attenders: Before coming for deliverance for the first time, please make an appointment to speak to Pastor Rajinder Saturday 16th June Saturday 21st July For non-ECC attenders: Please contact ELLEL MINISTRIES on 01252 794060

ALL-NIGHT PRAYER MEETINGS Last Friday of every month 10.00pm to 5.00am A night of intercession, celebration, thanksgiving and praise Friday 29th June Friday27th July GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Note from the Treasurer

WEEKLY Meetings Sunday services Celebration service

9.00am to 10.45am

The Grace of Giving

2 Corinthians 8:7 says “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in youa]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

ow do you give to the Lord? Do you just drop some money into the offering bucket at church without a second thought? Or perhaps you simply write a cheque (or pay by mobile app) the first Sunday of every month, and pay Him as a matter of routine, like you pay all your other bills? Think about that, because how you give is a matter of deep concern to God. He’s particular about how offerings are given. He won’t receive just any old offering, no matter how you feel like giving it. In Malachi, for example, God refused to receive Israel’s offerings. They were bringing Him their defective animals, their blind calves, and the injured ones they couldn’t do anything else with – and God said it offended Him. He told them: “You don’t have any reverence or honour for Me, and I’m not going to accept your offering.” If you and I want God to be pleased with our offerings, we’re going to have to do what the Apostle Paul wrote about, in 2 Corinthians 8:7. We’re going to have to learn to “excel in this grace of giving”. We’re going to have to quit being casual about our giving, and learn to give with faith and reverence in worship. So, the next time the offering bucket is passed around, don’t just carelessly drop your gift into it. Get serious. Determine to obey God. Worship Him with your money and be thankful for all He has done for you. He’ll do more than simply receive it; He’ll open the windows of blessing for you (Malachi 3:9-10).

Sandra Dawodu You can now pay your tithes and offerings through the ECC website at www.ecc.org.uk or by mobile app Acct No Sort Code

18844979 60 05 16

with classes for Children & Youth

Celebration service

11.15am to 1.00pm

with classes for Children & Youth

Japanese service Polish service Evening service

2.30pm to 4.30pm in Auditorium

2.30pm to 4.30pm in Foyer

6.30pm to 8.00pm

See ‘What’s On at ECC’ on page 23 for details

Mondays

Prayer meetings

10.00am & 6.00pm

Prayer meetings

10.00am & 7.30pm

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Prayer meetings 10.00am & 6.00pm Little Stars’ Parents & Tots Term-time only 10.00am to 12.00pm Wednesday Afternoon Fellowship 2.00pm to 3.30pm

Thursdays

Prayer meetings 10.00am & 6.00pm Equippers: Life skills 7.00pm to 9.30pm Registration required

Fridays

Prayer meetings 10.00am & 6.00pm Equippers: Ministry skills 7.00pm to 9.30pm All-night Prayer

Registration required

10.00pm to 5.00am

Last Friday of the month

Saturdays

Street evangelism

11.00am to 1.00pm

Second Saturday of the month

FINANCE THANK YOU

FOR YOUR FAITHFUL GIVING TO GOD’S WORK MAR 2018 APR 2018 Tithes & Offerings £42,991.16 £49,872.12 Building Fund £41,405.06 £4,818.18 Standing Orders £31,769.83 £28,546.91

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

WHAT WE BELIEVE Elim Pentecostal Churches 1. THE BIBLE: We believe the Bible, as originally given, to be without error, the fully inspired and infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. 2. THE TRINITY: We believe that the Godhead exists co-equally and co-eternally in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that these Three are one God, sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. 3. THE SAVIOUR: We believe in the true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His real and complete humanity, in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His heavenly intercession and His second advent to receive His Church. 4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the Father and the Son and the necessity of His work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an enduement of power as the gift of Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this enduement the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service. 5. MANKIND: We believe in the universal sinfulness of all mankind since the Fall, rendering man subject to God's wrath and condemnation. 6. SALVATION: We believe in the necessity for salvation of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which the sinner is pardoned and accepted as righteous in God's sight. This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone and is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit and a holy life. 7. THE CHURCH: We believe in the spiritual unity and the priesthood of all believers in Christ and that these comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ. 8. THE MINISTRY: We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament. 9. THE ORDINANCES: We believe in the baptism of believers in water in obedience to the command of Christ and the commemoration of Christ's death by the observance of the Lord's Supper until His return. 10. THE COMMISSION: We believe that the Gospel embraces the needs of the whole man and that the Church is therefore commissioned to preach the Gospel to the world and to fulfil a ministry of healing and deliverance to the spiritual and physical needs of mankind. 11. THE COMING KING: We believe in the personal, physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in power and glory. 12. THE FUTURE STATE: We believe in the resurrection of the dead and in the final judgment of the world, the eternal conscious bliss of the righteous and the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.

WHAT’S ON AT ECC

Sunday Services at a glance 9.00am, 11.15am, 6.30pm

JULY

JUNE am 3rd pm

PRAISE & COMMUNION Guest Speaker: Pastor Bhab Ghale, Nepal ELIM MISSIONS VUMBA PRODUCTION Guest Speaker: Pastor Paul Hudson Elim International Missions Director

am 10th pm

CELEBRATION SERVICE Speaker: Pastor Richard Buxton

am 17th pm

FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION SERVICE Speaker: Pastor Richard Buxton

am 24th pm

REVIVAL & HEALING MEETING Speaker: Pastor Rajinder Buxton

EVANGELISTIC EVENING Guest Speaker: Andrew Palau International Evangelist (USA) MOVING IN THE SUPERNATURAL with David & Greta Peters, New Zealand MOVING IN THE SUPERNATURAL with David & Greta Peters, New Zealand

am 1st pm am 8th pm am 15th pm am 22nd pm am 29th pm

PRAISE & COMMUNION Speaker: Pastor Richard Buxton

KIDZ ALIVE IN CONCERT with Rhoda Morson

CELEBRATION SERVICE Speaker: Pastor Mark King REVIVAL & HEALING MEETING Speaker: Pastor Rajinder Buxton CELEBRATION SERVICE Speaker: Pastor Richard Buxton HOLY SPIRIT EVENING Speaker: Pastor Alex Morgan CELEBRATION SERVICE Speaker: Pastor Richard Buxton CARIBBEAN EVENING An evening of praise, worship & the Word Caribbean style! CELEBRATION SERVICE Pastor Rajinder Buxton HOLY SPIRIT EVENING Speaker: Pastor Mark King

FORTHCOMING EVENTS @ ECC

Missions Day - 3rd June EVENING:

Guest speaker Pastor Paul MORNING: Hudson Guest speaker with VUMBA Pastor Bhab Ghale PRODUCTION

Guest Speakers SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE on 17th June

at 6.30pm

“Each one bring one” to a special evangelistic service with guest speaker, ANDREW PALAU (USA)

Guest Speakers DAVID & GRETA PETERS, from New Zealand minister in the supernatural and will be at all services on Sunday 24th June

Caribbean Evening

SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE on 22nd July

at 6.30pm

“Each one bring one” to a wonderful gospel celebration with rejoicing and singing ‘done in the CARIBBEAN way’! GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

MEN’S DISCIPLESHIP

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

The world has yet to see what God will do with men who are fully consecrated to Him!

n 1873, two Christian preachers were talking about a conference they had just attended. Henry Varley said to his new friend, DL Moody (pictured): “Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” The world has yet to see what God will do through one man whose heart is totally surrendered to Him.

“...With God’s help I will be such man.”

These words pierced Moody’s heart. He couldn’t get them out of his mind, and said these words to himself: “I will be that man! If God is looking for a man of integrity, a man of honour and courage and faithfulness, with God’s help I will be such man.”

Moody would go on to become one of the greatest evangelists of the nineteenth century. These words that inspired Moody have become words that have inspired and challenged me. They have challenged me in a way that makes me ask the questions: What does it mean to be a man that is fully consecrated to God? What things am I doing in my life that I need to stop in order to be fully sold out for Him? What does it look like to have a heart that is truly and totally surrendered to God? Then the words of Paul often come to the fore in my life: ‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do’ (Romans 7:15). Just like Paul, I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. ‘Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified’ (1 Corinthians 9:27). Knowing that, the more I do this, the more I will become like Him. But also knowing that, in doing this, I will begin to see God

What would it look like, if a group of men made a commitment to be men of integrity, honour, courage and faithfulness? 24

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

move in ways in my life that I haven’t seen before. However, these words also fill me with hope and wonder! They allow me to dream about what God can do. What transformations would they bring to my home? To my workplace? To our church? To our community? It also makes me ask this question: What would God do in this world through a group of men, who are fully consecrated to God? What would God do in ECC if the men of ECC were fully consecrated to God? If our hearts were truly and totally His. How would that transform our church? What would it look like, if a group of men made a commitment to be men of integrity, honour, courage and faithfulness?

If every man, who is part of ECC, made the commitment to improve in one of these areas over the next year, what would it look like...?

If every man, who is part of ECC, made the commitment to improve in one of these areas over the next year, what would it look like, if they taught and inspired others to live this way? What would it mean to the generation following behind - both boys and girls? What impact would it have on London? 2 Chronicles 16:9 says: ‘For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.’ God is looking to strengthen men whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Will you rise to the challenge? Will you stand up and be counted? Will you be a man who says: “God, I’m going to be a man whose heart is truly and totally surrendered to You”? I’m going to join a movement of men in ECC, who are going to be examples in integrity, honour, courage and faithfulness in every area of life!

Pastor ALEX MORGAN

Men’s Ministry

WOMEN’S DISCIPLESHIP

BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY IN A

Discipleship Cell Group

PICTURE: A recent Women’s Prayer Breakfast

4. Having fun

Make time to enjoy each other’s company and doing fun things together. A lot of what Jesus did was in a relaxed, informal setting. For example, a pharisee invited Jesus over for a meal with them (Luke 7:34). So arrange an evening out, have a video night, BBQ or maybe even a cruise! Below are some of the answers given by Cell leaders, who are already practicing community in their Discipleship Cell groups:

n today’s society, individuals are seeking a place where they can take part and engage in a community with a spirit of togetherness. Within every human being, there exists the need to belong, but society always seems to emphasise the role of individualism. God wants us to focus on becoming more selfless and being brotherly or sisterly in our lifestyle. One of the questions we can ask ourselves is: How do we create a real sense of community in Discipleship Cell groups? Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Consider creating a place where: 1. They are able to grow spiritually and help each other and the church 2. They feel ‘safe’ to try out new things and ask difficult questions 3. They are challenged, but don’t run away and hide 4. Everyone feels valued Some things we can do:

1. Prayer

Jesus shared His life with His disciples, eating and praying with them. And so as leaders we ought to do the same: pray for those in our group to grow and live for God throughout the week. The Bible also makes it clear that prayer, coupled with fasting, brings great benefits (Daniel 9:1-3, Mark 9:29).

When was the last time your Discipleship Cell had an evening out, apart from attending meetings? • Valentine’s Day • Christmas period • Celebrating a member’s 60th birthday

How much is your Cell group a meeting place rather than a community? • We know each other well • We love coming together to share about God • It started off being a meeting place, but is now becoming a community. It takes time to get to know people • It is more of a community, as the atmosphere is not formal but cosy

How can you cultivate ‘community’ in your group? • • • • • • • •

Spending time together, eating together Remembering birthdays Supporting each other Listening to Cell members’ needs and their views, so they feel valued Keeping in touch during the week, eg. WhatsApp group Praying for each other Arranging days out Friendship evangelism

What are the characteristics of someone with a gift for building community?

• Someone who is enthusiastic and possesses the fruit of the Spirit • Someone who has a heart for people

2. Community

How can you use them to build Cell community?

3. Being a role model

If you are not part of a Women’s, Men’s or Young People’s Cell, complete an application form at the Information desk at the back of the Auditorium.

Community means togetherness, sharing lives together with love for each other (1 John 4:9). Our relationship with each other mirrors our relationship with God; we cannot be filled with love for God, yet be filled with hatred (or indifference) for our brother or sister. One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is peace, so don’t run from conflict - address it together.

As leaders we model what we hope to see built up in others. Follow Jesus as our role model of living. Be honest and encourage others. Make time to phone and connect with others.

• By asking them to organise a Discipleship Cell social • By asking them for their ideas • By encouraging them

VERONICA ANTOINE

Women’s Primary Cell Coordinator GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

The Day I Gave My Life to Jesus ‘Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.’ (Psalm 102:18)

remember when I was a child, my parents would buy me lockable diaries to encourage me to keep a daily journal. It was one way of teaching me to record my experiences, thoughts and feelings. As I read back through my entries - aside from my numerous grammatical errors and bad spelling - it brought back a lot of emotions and memories. It captured many important events in my life, including the day I gave my life to Christ. Having my diary, I can look back and see what God was doing in my life and reflect on them. Below are some valuable stories of our ECC children capturing the most important event in their lives: the day they gave their lives to Christ. ANN VORKEL

Children’s Ministry Coordinator

about God from the ITheylearned Bible, church and my parents. taught me two things: love

God and love others. Last year, one Sunday, our teacher said we were going to ask God into our lives. Then we prayed. It was quiet. During the prayer, I chose to follow God. Ever since, I’ve been trying hard to follow God. I used to be rude sometimes - and sometimes I still am - but I know God doesn’t remember my sins. Jaasiel O, 10 learned about God at ECC. Ibecause I decided to follow Jesus He is powerful. I

accepted Him last year. I chose Him to be the Boss of my life, because He died for my sins. Adiya O, 6 about God from the Bible, Ifromlearned my parents and I also learned God. What prompted me to

have learnt a lot about God from the Bible, but that is not how I got closer to Christ and realised how to love Him as my Lord and Saviour.

The person who brought me to Christ was my mum, because on a Sunday, when she used to go to church, I would stay at home and do nothing productive than other watch TV. But I never knew that one Sunday could change my life for the better. One Sabbath day, my mum decided to take me to church, and I absolutely loved it. It was the best time I’d had in my life because the people were welcoming and kind, and we were all worshipping the same Person who is the Lord. And since then I have been coming to church non-stop, waking up at 7am to get ready, but it is worth it because there is no other God like ours. I was also influenced by my grandma, as she is a strong follower of God. She did this by buying me children’s Bibles and children’s Bible stories. She also bought me a Psalm book. She started buying them for me when I was 3 years old, and has continued to do so all these years. Through going to church and learning more about Christ, when I was 10, my mum and I were sitting down in my living room talking about Christ and knowing Him more, and about baptisms, and that was when I decided I wanted to follow Him and get baptised. I wanted to do this because I wanted to go to heaven and be with Him, and I no longer want to live as a sinner. Asia M, 11

make a decision to follow Jesus was when I went to church. I heard people saying - and this is also in the Bible – “Love one another”. So I was thinking that it must mean love one person and another person (so love everyone) and I did. When I was at Sunday school, I chose to make our Jesus the Boss of my life, because when I was three, that’s when my mum and dad taught me about Jesus. And once I found out that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, I thought it was sad and then I thought, you know what, I’m going to listen to Him and be His servant and disciple. One day, I will be with God. I know it! Suniemi R, 7

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

“I chose JESUS to be the Boss of my life.”

y parents introduced me to M Christ and told me that Jesus died on the cross for me. What

prompted me to make the decision to follow Christ Jesus was when He died on the cross for us and knowing that He loves us. I accepted Jesus in my life two years ago when I was at ECC. I chose to make Jesus the Boss of my life because God created me. Alyssa B, 10

OD IS OOD

PICTURE: Ben White at Unsplash

YOUTH MINISTRY

here have been circumstances of late that have forced me to really meditate on whether or not I wholeheartedly believe that Abba Father is good - regardless of the circumstance. I have often meditated on Scriptures that tell of His goodness and sung songs that reinforce it, but rarely have I ever felt it called into question to the extent it has been over the last few months. This came as a bit of a shock to the system. It often felt blasphemous to even question an attribute so core to His character but, as I stood one Sunday service, and allowed all my feelings and anxieties to pour out before Him through worship, like a jar of perfume, I felt a weight lift off me, as I realised I had allowed the spirit of religiosity to dictate which fears I chose to share with God, so that I didn’t ‘offend’ Him (as if He didn’t already know my every thought). If Scripture commands that we boldly approach the throne, then surely that grace and mercy extend to more than just audacious prayers and pleas. Surely that same grace and mercy that offer rest in our time of need also offer shelter from thoughts and emotions that may cause us to question what we inherently know to be true of God - even if we do need the occasional reminder. The more I meditated on the questions I had about God, based on my circumstances, the more confidence I had in the unshakeable truth that His faithfulness always sees us through, I

had to consciously choose to meditate on His Word and believe its truth. Every single day. It can often feel scary to have what you thought you knew to be true called into question, but it’s through these experiences that our faith has the potential to flourish, should we choose to respond accordingly. When circumstances feel as though they are out of your control, which if we’re completely honest they often do, we can either hide and hope the situation goes away - hardening our hearts in the process - or we can choose to use the circumstance to learn and relearn about God’s unfathomable goodness. My personal lesson has been to not be afraid to ask the big and hard questions, even if I think I know the answer. Just as a child has the intimacy and vulnerability with their parent to ask about the things that may haunt them, or for clarification on things that seem confusing and unfair, so do we with our heavenly Father, who never lacks in compassion and love. My prayer is that you would feel emboldened to share with Abba the entirety of your heart, especially the corners that are dark and make us uncomfortable, because it is through this worship that we get to experience what a Good Father He really is.

VANESSA KARERA

Assistant Youth Worker

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Fellowship

Please email your Wedding, New Baby and other good news to SHARON GRANT at sg@ecc.org.uk

HERE FOR YOU

& CONGRATULATIONS

EVERGREENS

Ealing

Foodbank collection dates

Monday 11th June LUNCH TOGETHER AT HARVESTER BOSTON MANOR 1.30pm - 4.30pm Please meet at venue. To book a space, please contact Sharon in the office £5 required to secure booking All welcome

after morning services on: Sunday 10th & 17th June Sunday 8th & 15th July

Monday 9th July TIME OUT WITH GOD Mulberry House 8am - 6pm Cost is £30 which includes retreat, refreshments and transport NO EVERGREENS IN AUGUST Monday 10th September 1.30pm Date and details to be confirmed

JUNE

Saturdays

14th July 18th August 29th September

2pm - 6pm

Please contact Sherine or Sharon via ECC church office for further information 28

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

EDNESDAY Afternoon Fellowship

6th Pastor Bob with Ann Morris 13th Lola Vassell with Prayer/Praise 20th Lola Vassell with Dale Adebakin 27th Pastor Bob

JULY

4th Lola Vassell with Pastor Bob 11th Pastor Bob with Rudy Brann 18th Lola Vassell with Pastor Bob 25th Pastor Bob with Sharon Grant

SPECIAL FEATURE

Building a nation within a nation A 3-page special by JANE K WAMAE on Kenya Community Rebuild, a ministry celebrating 7 years of making a difference to the Kenyan Diaspora and beyond

ow does one begin to build bridges, rebuild broken walls, and refocus a community that’s so diverse in many aspects – based on an instruction received following a season of prayer?

build a bridge for healing, unity, reconciliation and refocusing of the community. Start to rebuild the broken walls within the community. Your first meeting will be on 19th March.”

This is the question I’ve been trying to answer for the last seven years, and I continue to wait on God every day for guidance.

It was clear I had two months to the given date. I even tried to ‘negotiate’ a change of plan and date with God, but to no avail. Where was I to start? What was I to do? This forced me back to my knees for clarity and directions.

New Year’s Day 2011, I went home feeling refreshed and renewed in my spirit, after the New Year’s Eve Celebration and all-night prayer meeting at ECC. I don’t remember making any New Year resolutions, nor feeling adventurous in any way; all I wanted was more and more of God in my life. I got home and started to get myself ready for some muchneeded rest, but my spirit wouldn’t allow me to. I wanted to continue where we had left off. Before long, I was having an encounter I had only experienced on two previous occasions. The Voice was familiar, and His presence overwhelming: the Holy Spirit was speaking again, but with instructions I felt were meant for someone else – for pastors who were better positioned, more spiritual, more anointed - but not for me.

The Mandate Reality had set in, and the enormity of the mandate immediately made me feel unworthy and inadequate for such a task, bringing my excitement to an abrupt end. I had no doubt, however, who was speaking, and it was clear the matter was important to God - and also urgent. The mandate was clear: “Gather the Kenyan community and

A divine set-up? A week passed before I could share these details with anyone, or even figure out what to do. I later attended a conference in Borehamwood, and the guest speaker from Uganda, whom I’d never met before, called me out before starting to minister, and said: “God has asked you to do something that’s so important to Him. It’s urgent, but you have many questions. All He wants you to do is to obey, and He’ll do the rest. From today, start telling people about it.” I always reflect on this day as a set-up from God, as the room was full of Kenyans who later wanted to know what God had told me to do. The platform was ready-made; all I had to do was inform them that all Kenyans were to meet on 19th March. With blessings from our Senior Minister Richard Buxton and the leadership of ECC, ‘Kenya Community Rebuild’ (KCR) was continued

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

SPECIAL FEATURE

Building a nation within a nation

continued

launched at ECC on Saturday 19th March 2011. Holding onto the Word of God, and remembering the words of Winston Churchill - “There are many things you cannot fix until you fix the community, for in every community there is work to be done and wounds to heal” - we set out to achieve the mandate. The following vision, mission and core values and tenets remain our guide:

Our Vision: • To be a formidable force and recognised driver of sustainable growth and development for Kenya and the Diaspora, and a great source of legacy for future generation • To be the voice of the Diaspora

Our Mission: • To build a vibrant, active and visible Kenyan Diaspora Community • To build a bridge and offer a platform that will provide unity, refocus and support network for members of the Kenyan Diaspora • To develop and form relationships and alliances - both internally and externally - developing sensible and proactive stakeholder engagement campaigns in pursuit of our vision and core values • To provide training, counselling, guidance and development support to disadvantaged Kenyan citizens in the Diaspora and in Kenya, as individuals or groups

Our Values: Our values are based on socio-economic, political and moral justice, underpinned by the spiritual development of Kenyans, valuing diversity, promoting tolerance, equality and fairness. We aim to help raise the profile and elevate the status of all Kenyan citizens - wherever they are and without prejudice -

with integrity under the tenets of: Spiritual, Social, Youth, Economic, and Government Relations & Advocacy.

Spiritual Aspect:

This is the foundation of the whole movement, as it is a Godordained initiative. It aims to: promote unity amongst the community; rebuild the broken walls by calling upon servants of God to work together in unity, and offer prayer and counselling to Kenyan citizens. We also aim to pave a way for reconciliation and healing within the community.

Social Aspect:

“There are many things you cannot fix until you fix the community, for in every community there is work to be done and wounds to heal” Winston Churchill

KCR aims to highlight the challenges being faced within the community, and seeks to address them by being a source of information and creating awareness through training, counselling, advisory, advocacy and mediation. It also aims to provide a platform to address issues in relation to healthcare, employment (including support for those who might otherwise miss out), immigration, legal, housing and education. In addition, we aim to promote the participation of individuals, groups and communities, particularly those who are traditionally marginalised.

Youth Aspect:

To provide a platform where the youths of Kenyan descendants can engage and learn about their culture, exchange skills and ideas amongst their peers in the Diaspora - as well as in Kenya - is another objective of Kenyan Community Rebuild.

Economic Aspect:

KCR aims to invest in individuals and groups so that community groups can become more effective in terms of training, advisory, advocacy and consultancy services. This will enable groups to be more economically active and environmentally sustainable.

Pictures supplied by Jane Wamae

We also aim to create awareness of investment opportunities available in Kenya and the UK, by offering individually-tailored training and development support programmes to meet the needs of our regional and local networks.

Government Relations and Advocacy:

It aims to create a direct link between the Kenyan government and the Diaspora to advocate for the wellbeing, safety, rights and privileges of Kenyans at national governmental level, county government level and the various government ministries.

GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

Another goal is to support the political incorporation of the

SPECIAL FEATURE PICTURE: Gad Studio

Diaspora and the establishment of specific civil and social rights for its population, eg. voting rights. It offers a platform for policy, research, communication and stakeholder engagement with government, international, private dector, funders, donors, sponsors, NGOs and CSOs.

The seven-year journey Mother Teresa once said: “I alone cannot change the world, but can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” With this understanding, I mobilised and encouraged our people to come together and build a community of shared responsibilities and sustainable relationships. I advocated for starting with small ideas at the grassroots level, such as looking out for our neighbours, being good role models (especially to our youths), sharing knowledge and information, caring, etc. My aim is to have many local actions occurring simultaneously.

The stone cast has caused many inspirational ripples, and has helped many to put to use what God has put into their hands. KCR has representations throughout London, Oxford, Coventry, Manchester, Bristol, Swindon, Sheffield, Luton, Northampton, Nottingham, Kent, Hertfordshire and Scotland - to name a few. We have a valued health programme that brings together many Kenyan health and social care professionals to deliver health screening, advice and workshops across the UK. Its aim is to combat lifestyle-related illnesses and diseases, like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, by addressing diet and routines. More than ever before, we’ve witnessed goodwill among the clergy in wanting to work together and to embrace theological and biblical training in line with their calling.

Hebrews 3:4 highlights that … ‘every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.’ I can testify that God has continued to lead and build His work in our midst. In the last seven years, we’ve seen growth and development in all the pillars of KCR. A lot of time has gone into training for volunteers; using available platforms to publicise and market our objectives; establishing operational structures and systems; establishing regional representations, as well as organising community events. We’ve encouraged and created platforms, where resources, strengths, gifting, skills and abilities can come together to address a growing list of challenges facing our community. With time, our diversity has become our strength. We’ve seen many people coming to the Lord. Many testify of breakthrough in various fields and various open doors of favour. PICTURE: Njehu - studio77.co.uk

Others have embraced adult education and are now qualified professionals, while others have built capacity for their businesses.

There are other initiatives within the community that directly or indirectly push forward our mandate. There is ‘Kenya in the Park’ – an annual event that brings together thousands of people. The youths have their own programme and are vibrant, prayerful and part of different mentorship programmes. The next phase of KCR will include widening the networks, and reaching out to regions that have no representation; parenting and education programmes; health programmes and workshops on business initiatives and careers in governance. We are also in the process of registering as a charitable organisation. KCR’s efforts have been recognised here in the UK, as well as in Kenya. We have been invited to join discussions relating to youth in the House of Commons; received two invitations by the Queen to her Garden Party, awarded the Unsung Heroes Award by the UK Kenyan Achievers team, and have an opportunity to address the president of Kenya, amongst others. We’ve along way to go, but God has been faithful to build and sustain what He began. Keep us in your prayers, and choose to impact your own generation and the next. Blessings

Jane K Wamae GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 92 • June / July 2018

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